North Shields gym staff praised after saving the life of stricken fitness fanatic Peter Pooley

Peter Pooley had a heart attack whilst working out in the gym at The Parks Leisure Centre, North Shields. His life was saved by a member of staff- Richard Lazonby who used a Defibrillator to revive him

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A fitness fan has told how a pair of hero gym instructors saved his life.

Peter Pooley has today thanked the staff at Parks Sports Centre, who leapt to his aid when he collapsed on the cross-trainer.

Fitness instructors Richard Lazonby and Geoff Shippen put the retired policeman into the recovery position before using a life-saving defibrillator machine to restart his heart.

The 59-year-old is one of three people in just six months to be saved with a defibrillator at the centre, in North Shields.

And medics have said that if it wasn’t for the swift actions of the pair, Peter could have died.

“I owe my life to them,” said Peter, of North Shields. “If I’d have collapsed in the street and no one was around to save me I wouldn’t have been here today.

“Their training, expertise and quick reactions saved my life.”

Richard Lazonby with Peter Pooley (right) whose life he saved using a Defibrillator

Peter, who had a heart bypass 10 years ago, had been enjoying an early morning workout at the leisure centre, on Howdon Road, in December, when he stopped breathing, fell off the cross trainer he had been using and banged his head.

An ambulance arrived and he underwent an emergency operation - with just 27 minutes of collapsing.

Peter, who isn’t yet allowed to do any exercise, said: “I can’t remember what happened but staff at the centre have filled me in.

“The speed of which they came to my rescue was fantastic and the machine was obviously in working order and they had been properly trained on it.

“I’m extremely grateful and I will be returning there. I have every confidence in the staff.”

General View of the Parks Leisure Centre, North Shields

Peter was the second person to have been resuscitated at the centre since the defibrillator was installed in December 2011, following funding from the British Heart Foundation and training from North East Ambulance Service (NEAS).

A third man, a customer in his 70s, was also saved by staff after collapsing with a suspected heart attack on February 4.

Peter added: “They have done an amazing job. It just shows the importance of having these machines everywhere.

“They are so important and there should be a big push for them.”

North Tyneside Elected Mayor Norma Redfearn said: “I am delighted to hear that both people are making a full recovery and I’d like to wish them well.

“I must praise our quick thinking officers for saving their lives – I am very proud of the team, they’re a credit to this council.

“I would also like to thank the North East Ambulance Service for providing such high quality training, meaning our staff were able to act calmly, promptly and had the skills to resuscitate these two Paul Brolly, community resuscitation training officer for the North East Ambulance Service, who personally trained the leisure centre staff, said: “I’ve been doing this job for just over four years and we only had one CPAD when I first started.

“To have three successful resuscitations in the same place is amazing. I am so proud of the staff members’ actions and speedy response, which definitely contributes to patient survival.

“Without their quick response, effective CPR and the presence of the defibrillator, the patients may have had a different outcome.

“For every minute that passes between the heart stopping and the shock being delivered, the chance of survival decreases between 7% to 10%. Defibrillators are therefore vital to helping save someone’s life.

“We wish the patients and their families all the very best.”

Peter Pooley with members of staff who have saved lives by using the Defibrillator. L-R Ian Chater, Rebecca Morley, Richard Lazonby and Peter Pooley

More lives could be saved thanks to the growing number of defibrillators being installed in the North East.

Defibrillators installed in busy public places, such as leisure centres and shopping centres, are known as static sites, with staff trained by the ambulance service to respond and use them in the event of an emergency.

There are currently 103 static sites throughout the North East, though not all organisations declare they have one on site so there could potentially be more.

There are a further 54 community public access defibrillators installed in communities throughout the region, which are available for members of the public to use in an emergency once they have called 999.